Alex, she said Opolo. That's a winery in the Paso Robles region of California where they grow mostly Rhone varietals--hot climate, hot year. I just spent a couple days in there with friends, and I vouch for the fact that there 14.5 abv's low, and 16-16.5 isn't that unusual.

Ronica--ha ha ha ha ha. We told you this would happen! You'd find a wine that really talks to you, and you'd be off to the races. Funny how once you fall in love, the price becomes a little less important. Which was the $8 viognier that you liked?

My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov

Yes, congratulations, moments of breakthrough are exciting even if expensive.. I suppose he told you about the next tier of viognier prices you can break with Condrieu, but, maybe you want to wait a bit

Rahsaan wrote:Yes, congratulations, moments of breakthrough are exciting even if expensive.. I suppose he told you about the next tier of viognier prices you can break with Condrieu, but, maybe you want to wait a bit

Monetarily speaking, I can only handle one breakthrough a month, but I have been wanting to try Condrieu. Have any recommendations? As long as we're speaking French, what do you think of Vouvray?

Deborah Ackerman wrote:Hi Ronica! I am also new to drinking Viogniers and will make a point of trying your "new found love" simply because of your passionate reaction...lol! Love it! :cool:

Deborah,

I tend to like bold and flavorful wines. That's why I'm having an adjustment curve to the subtle French reds I've been trying. So, take that into consideration b/f you go for the Opolo. If you find it I hope you like it.

I tend to like bold and flavorful wines. That's why I'm having an adjustment curve to the subtle French reds I've been trying. So, take that into consideration b/f you go for the Opolo. If you find it I hope you like it.

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Thanks for the preference info, Ronica. I do tend to prefer a more medium-bodied wine as I am not fond of the normally higher alcohol content of a full-bodied wine, but I do enjoy intense flavor! Whether I love the Opolo like you or not, I look forward to the experience of trying it; that's part of the fun of discovering new wines! The trick is to find it now! :cool:

Monetarily speaking, I can only handle one breakthrough a month, but I have been wanting to try Condrieu. Have any recommendations?

If you do try Condrieu the Opolo will probably go out the window. Yves Cuilleron Les Chaillets Condrieu is a good place to start, or to end for that matter. It should be available in the neighborhood of $30.

Sam

"The biggest problem most people have is that they think they shouldn't have any." - Tony Robbins

Rahsaan wrote:Yes, congratulations, moments of breakthrough are exciting even if expensive.. I suppose he told you about the next tier of viognier prices you can break with Condrieu, but, maybe you want to wait a bit

I'm with Rahsaan on this one: chenin blanc (Vouvray wines) outclass Condrieu and viognier wines to my palate. I enjoy a nice viognier, but even with Condrieu wines, you have to spend fairly big bucks and try numerous wines before you hit a winner. That's been my experience, anyway.

Buy anything from Domaine Huet in Vouvray and I don't think you'll be disappointed. The only problem, viognier is meant to drink soon, but chenin takes 7-10 years to really shine. That's not to say it isn't yummy as a young wine, but it shows much greater complexity with age.

Thanks for the comeback James, I will break open a bottle of the 96 soon. I am a little bit confused by your reference to Pichon. Is this the Pichon's of Bordeaux, or is this a Loire branch of the same name? Or is it an altogether different Pichon? Enquiring mind's and all that.

RonicaJM wrote:How can I go back to my $8 Viognier? :roll: It's so sad.

Hey, I have a $8 Viognier that I love, from Domaine Astruc in Languedoc. Thing is, the reason I like it, besides the price, is that it doesn't smell like Carmen Miranda's hat! Most Washington viognier I've tried has a nose of all tropical fruit and alcohol, and I've gotten very tired of that.